Reclining article of repose for supporting the body of a person



Jan. 27, 1959 1 J. LUCKHARDT 2,870,821

RECLINING ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Oct. 21, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. JOHANN ES LUCKHARDT ATTORNEY.

Jan. 27, 1959 J. LUCKHARDT 2,870,821

RECLINING. ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THEYBODY OF A PERSON Filed Oct. 21, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 I Isa INVENTOR. JOHANNES LUCKHARDT ATTORNEY.

1959 J. LUCKHARDT 2,870,821

RECLINING ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed Oct. 21, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 T a-i INVEN TOR. J OHANNES LUCKHARDT ATTORN'EY.

Jan. 27, 1959 J. LUCKHARDT 2,870,821

RECLINING ARTICLE *OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Filed 'om. 21. 1954 4 Sheets$heet 4 INVENTOR. JOHANNES LUCKHARDT A TTORN E 5.

RECLINING ARTICLE OF REPOSE FOR SUPPORTING THE BODY OF A PERSON Johannes Luckhardt, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany; Wassiii Johannes Friedrich Luckhardt, Bcrlin-Dahlem, Germany, sole heir of said Johannes Luckhardt, deceased, assignor to Norman P. Martin and Otto L. Walter, as trustees of Kappa Trust, Lake Worth, Fla.

Application October 21, 1954, Serial No. 463,656 Claims. (Cl. 155-106) This invention relates to articles of repose and more particularly to an article of furniture for supporting the body of a person in reclining and upright positions.

An object of the present invention is to provide an article of furniture which is adapted to support the body of a person between upright and reclining positions in a the seat and back-rest unit is automatically altered when the seat and back-rest unit is brought from a certain po sition, for example the normal upright sitting position, into another position, for example a reclining position, and vice versa.

A further object of the present invention is to improve upon the construction of reclining articles of furniture as they are now customarily made.

With the above and other objects of the invention in view, the invention consists in the careful construction, arrangement and convenience of various devices, elements and parts as set forth in the claims hereof, certain embodiments of the same as described in the specification being illustrated in the enclosed drawings forming part of the specification wherein;

In the drawings:

Fig. l is a side elevational view of an armchair according to the invention wherein the seat and back-rest unit is in a normal upright sitting position,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the armchair s town in Fig. l in a reclining position,

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of another embodiment of an armchair according to the invention,

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the armchair shown in Fig. 3, wherein, however, the seat and backrest unit is in a reclined position,

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of still another embodiment of an armchair according to the invention,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the armchair shown in Fig. 5, with the seat and back-rest unit of the same in the reclining position,

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a further embodiment of an armchair constructed according to the principles of the invention, and

Fig. 8 is a side elevational view of the armchair shown in Fig. 7 in a reclining position.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral in gen- L erally indicates the support including legs 11 for an arm i United States atent Q 2 on a support 10 about the rocking axis 18, positioned intermediate the ends of the seat 16.

The unit 12 is controlled in its rocking movement about its mounting 18 by guiding means generally identified by the numeral 2t). The guiding mean comprises two guide members or guiding links 22 and 24 which are pivotally connected for relative movement. The first guid ing link 22 is pivotally connected to the seat 16 of the unit 12 at 28 intermediate the rocking axis 18 and the rear end of the seat.

A handle grip 26 is rigid with the first guiding link 22.

The second guiding member 24 comprises a second guiding link which is connected at its lower end 30 to the support 10 for pivoting movement relative thereto and its other end to the first guiding link 22 at 32. Guiding means 20, including the guide members or links 22 and 24, form a toggle-control linkage which is movable through a path having a dead center position, not shown. Handle 26, provided at the upper end of the link 22, may be employed to move the guiding means 20 through a portion of the path of movement, from the right to slightly to the left of the dead center position.

Connected to the first guiding link 22 at its lower end is a biasing means 34. The biasing means shown in Figs. 1 and 2 consists of a spring or other resilient means which is connected at its one end to the support 10 and at its other end to the link 22 to urge the link constantly toward one side of the dead center position in the path of movement which the guiding means 20 is caused to follow.

A stop generally indicated by 36 is supported or mounted on the support 10 either as an individual member or formed as part of the support. The stop 36 is provided with a blocking means or stop surface 38 which is more clearly seen in Fig. 2. Stop surface 38 cooperates with the link 22 at the lower end thereof to limit, at one end, the extent of the path of movement of the guiding means 20 to the right of its dead center position.

Along the top of the stop member 36 there is provided a second stop surface 40, better seen in Fig. 1. Stop surface 40 cooperates with the bottom rear portion of the seat 16 to limit the extent of the rocking movement of the seat and back-rest unit 12 and, in turn, limits the other end of the path of movement of the guiding means 20.

In the operation of the instant invention, it the oc cupant of the unit 12 desires to rock the same from the upright position as shown in Fig. 1 to a reclining position, either as shown in Fig. 2, or approximating that shown in Fig. 2, the hand grip 26 is grasped in the palm of the hand and pushed downwardly in a clockwise direction. The handle 26 is manually moved clockwise just sufficiently to remove the link 22 from engagement with the stop surface 38 and to move the pivot connection 32 from the right hand side of its dead center position through the dead center position, and thence slightly to the left of the dead center position in the path of movement of the toggle control linkage of the guiding means 2% As the handle 26 is moved in a clockwise direction the restraining force or resistance against movement applied to the link 22 by the biasing spring 34 is overpowered.

Movement of the pivot 32 slightly to the left of the dead center position releases the toggle linkage of the guiding means 20 fromits locking position. Thereafter continued movement of the handle 26 is no longer necessary. The unit 12 is then substantially in a balanced condition, balanced by the biasing means 34. The occupant of the unitthen needs only to weight heavily or bounce lightly on the rear of the seat 16 to cause the pivot 32 to move through the portion of the path of movement of the guiding means 20 which is to the left of the dead center position and 'to move the unit 12 to a lower reclining position. "As the unit 12assumes the reclining position shown in Fig. 2, the rear of the seat 16 comes into engagement with the stop surface 4t) and is there blocked in itslowest reclining position.

When the members22 and 24 of the guiding means .20 have been moved beyond andtothe left of their dead center position, the biasing means 34 functions in the manner of a counter-balance to offset the weight of the occupant of the unit 12. Hence the unit 12 may be rocked to an infinite number of reclining positions intermediate the normal upright position and thelowest 'recliningposition-as seen in Fig. 2, there to be blocked by the stop surface 40. v

A rest-raining fo'rceiis constantly appliedto the lower portion of tlie first .gllidingflillkfZZ'by the biasing means "34in any positioniof the lever, even .wh en the guiding means 2Q,which includes thefllink 22 and the'link 24, isbeyond and tottlie left of the dead center position shown; in "Fig. 1. Hence, inianyposition of the pivot fp'oint32'ofthe guiding means {20a force will be exerted by thebiasing means 34on the link 22 to move the same "against the stop 38 to return -the chair unit 12 .to its upright-position.

To return the unit112 to the upright position it is only necessary for the occupant thereof to lift himself off the unit or to shift 'his'weight to the forward end of the seat -16 to let the -balancingbiasing means 34 .return the guiding means"20 to its straightened position sothat the pivot point*32 will approach and pass through the dead centerposition and to the right thereof. As the pivot 32 ismov'ed'throughthe dead center position and slightly 'to the right thereof by'the biasing means 34, the unit 12 will automaticallybe returned to its normal upright position and the :link "22 brought against the stop38.

When the unit '12is in the sitting position shown in Fig. 1 it cannot move-byitselfinto 'a reclined position reclined as the guiding'meansEZO isbeyond itsdead center position and 'thespring3-4 urges' the link ,22 against the stop '38. Furthermore, the arrangenient of "the guiding means20 beyondfits dead center position and'the abutting engagement of the link22 withthe'stop 38 prevents the unit 12 from an undesired and sudden tilting into a reclined position when aperson sits on the chair.

The biasing 'meansinay also he a counter balancing weightinsteadof asprir g or other resilient urging means as'shown. Or, within-the contemplation of the jinvention, a motion resisting or restraining device (not shown) may "be placed between the-linkiland 'thejlinkfliin the area of their pivot conneetion32 'to resist their relative movements. Sucharestrainingdevice ,could be in the nature of a }f riction brake.

When using a brake or other similar {biasing --means 'the handle 326 may be eliminated'falong with its initial unlocking functionnarnely, that of initially unlocking the guidingmeans-Qtlto move the pivot 32 from the right'to slightly to the left of the 'dead'center position. When the "handle 26 and its function is "eliminated, the path of movement of the toggle 'controllinkage of the guiding rneans 20 is modified jto'elimin'ate the-dead center position. Thisis doneliy positioning the link22 andthe link'24 withrespect to the-stop 38 so thatthe links 22 and '24 can never be straightened and so that the pivot 32 will be stopped slightly shortofthe dead center position by the stop 38.' V I Thuspthe unit 12 may be r-ocked labo'ut'the-axis 18, frbm an upright-toareliningpos'i-tioniby bouncingjlight- *ly ou or by the jo upant shifting his --weight heavily to "the'rear ofthe seat :16. By so-doing,*th e restraining'action of the brake biasing means is overcome to let the unit move to its reclining position. On theother hand, to

"return the innit =12 to its ,upright po'sition from fthe reehnmgposrtron, the occupant thereof merely shifts his weight to the front end of the seat 16 to overcome the restraining force of the brake biasing means and to move the seat'to the upright position.

In the modified embodiment of a reclining armchair as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 a leg-rest 150 is swingably mounted at 152 to the ,frontportion of the seat 116 of the unit 112, correspondingtothe structure shown in tures ofthe embodiment'shown inFigs. '1 and ,2.

As-will be -'noted'i11 Figs. 3 .anfd4 there isjloliiesilient biasing means shown sincethe function of the biasing means is supplanted by the "leg-rest 150, the controlling link 154 and the extension .158. The weight of the structure making up -the 'leg-rest 150, the controlling link 154 and the extension158 maybe predetermined so as toefiect-the-sarne function as that-of .the'biasing means 34 ofFigs. 1 and 2.

Themodified embodiment operates substantially in the same-manner asthat shown in Figs. 1 and 2. "[0 rock the unit 112 from its normal upright position to'a'reclining position, -the handle126 rigid withthefirst guiding link 12-2 'is-m-anually'rnoved clockwise to cause the guiding means -to-follow through its initialflp'ath of movemom-namely, from the right locked "side to slightly to the left-unlocked side-of its {dead centerposition.

Once the guiding means 120is movedfrom itslocked position to its unlocked 'positionby the operation of the handle 1% the extent to-which the unit112will be con- 'ti'nuedto be rocked and the degree"'to'which theleg-rest 150 will be extended will of course depend .upon the occupant. Byweighinggheavfly or boun'cinglightly on the rear of the seat '116 the occupantwill causethe guiding means 120to move through-its path of movementto the left of the dead center position. 'Thelextnt'ofthe reclining' position of the unit 112 ther'efore clependsupon the extent to which the guidirig rneans120 is caused to -m0ve'by the occupanfofllieunit 112.

The biasing cou'nte'rb alancing structure comprising the members 150, 154 "andYISS 'constantlytends .to return the unit 112 to the right'of its de'a'dlcentfer position against the stop 138. When .the vguic lii ig"ineans 120 is to the left of the dead center position, it compensates for and counterbalances theweight iofthe occupant of the unit 112.

Thennit 112 is returned 1110 its normal uprightp'osition and the leg-rest 150 to its inactive position (see Fig. 3) by the counterbalancing"biasingstructure .150, 154 and 158 which exerts a force about thepivot 132 to move the guiding means;120 through' the .dead center position and the extension 158 intoab utment with the stop surface 138. Thus, whenihe :occupant of the: unit 112 moves his weight tothe forward end of the'seat" 116 the biasing structure forces theguidingmeansEto assume the position shown in Fig. 3,- rnoving-rthe unit to the upright position.

It will 'be realized that the-stop surface 138 cooperates with the extension -158vto limit-'one end'of the path of movement of the guidi-ng means 12 0 thereby to limit the extent of the rocking movementofthe unit 112 into its upright position. :On the otherhand, the stop surface cooperates with the 'bottomrear portion of the seat 116 to'limit the extent of the reclining movenames:

ing means 129 and also the extended position of the legrest 150.

At times 'it may be desirable to add a further biasing means such as the spring 34, as disclosed in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or an additional counterbalancing weight. The additional biasing means may be attached to the extension 158 very much in the same manner as described in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is substantially the same as that which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and wherein corresponding elements are identified by the prefix numeral 2. The present embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6 differs, however, from that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in that the pivot 252 for the leg-rest 250 is positioned on the support 210 rather than on the end of the seat.

By pivoting the leg-rest 250 on the support 210 the leg-rest may in a sense, be said to be movable independently of the seat 216. That is to say that when the seat and back-rest unit 212 rocks about the axis 218 the leg-rest 250 will swing about the pivot 252. Because the leg-rest is not swingable about the end of the seat 216 it will not rock with the seat about the axis 218.

the pivot 252 to the extended leg-rest position when the unit 212 is rocked to the reclining position.

By the present construction therefore, it will be noted that as the unit 212 rocks to the reclining position, the pivot point 252 of the leg-rest 250 remains fixed on the support 210. Thus the leg-rest will have an extended position with respect to the end of the seat 216 which is greater in extent than the leg-rest 250 which is connected to the seat 216 in Figs. 3 and 4, so that the reclining unit may be readily used by tall persons.

The operation of the embodiment shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is substantially the same as that which is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the unit 212 is rocked to assume its reclining position the leg-rest 250 is, in turn, actuated by the first guiding link 222 and by the controlling link 254 to swing to its leg-resting or its extended position. When on the other hand the unit 212 is rocked to its upright or sitting position, the leg-rest 250, the link 254 and the extension 258 serve as biasing means to return the guiding means 220 to its normal upright position in which the extension 258 abuts and is stopped by the limiting surface 238.

The stop surfaces 238 and 244) perform the same functions in the present embodiment as they do in the embodiment shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and in Figs. 3 and 4.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the corresponding elements are identified by corresponding numerals with the exception, however, that the prefix numeral 3 has been employed. In this embodiment it will be seen that a link system generally identified by the numeral 351, projects the leg-rest 350 to a position for supporting the legs of a person in a reclining position. It will also be noted that the leg-rest 350 does not have a fixed pivot about which it may swing relative to either the support 21 or the seat 316 as it is shown in Figs. 3 and 4 or in Figs. 5 and 6, respectively. In the present embodiment the leg-rest 350 is supported by and projected into its leg supporting position by the system 351.

The operation of the unit 312 and of the leg-rest 350 is substantially the same as that disclosed in the prior embodiments. However, in the present embodiment, when the unit 312 is rocked about the axis 318 to assume a reclining position, the control link 354 which is pivotally connected to the leg-rest 359 at the connection 356, is also pivotally connected intermediate its ends to a first link 353 of the link system 351. The first link 353 is connected at its one end 352 to pivot relative to the support 310, intermediate its ends at 355 to The leg-rest 250 will swing on the support 210 about the control link 354 and at its farthest end 357 to a second link 359 of the link system 351 which is in turn connected at 360 to the leg-rest 350.

When the unit 312 is rocked about the axis 318, the controlling link 354 moves the first link 353 so that the same will swing about the connection 352. This in turn will cause a relative scissor movement to take place between the two links 354 and 353 to cause a pivoting movement at the connection 357 whereby the second link 359, which is connected to the leg-rest 350, will move the leg-rest as a unit up to a leg-supporting position. This may be seen more clearly in Fig. 8. Naturally the height and extension of the leg-rest 350 relative to the seat 316 will depend upon the extent to which the unit 312 is reclined.

It will be noted by comparing the instant embodiment with that shown in Figs. 3 and 4 that the leg-rest 350 is moved to an extended position relative to the seat 316 and therebeyond to support to the full extent, the legs of a person who is reclining in the unit 312. This movementis independent of the seat 316 in that it: is not directly connected therewith.

The leg-rest 350, the controlling linkage system 351 and 354 and the extension 358 constitute the biasing means which aid in returning the extension 353 into abutment with the stop surface 338 in the same manner as was described with respect to the prior embodiment. The limiting surface 340 cooperates with the unit 312 to limit its reclining movement also in the same manner as previously described.

The term biasing means as employed in the disclosure is not intended to be limited solely to devices or apparatus which exert a moving force, such as the spring 34, but it is also intended to include such devices or apparatus which exert a restraint or resistance against relative movement, such as the brake described above.

I have described preferred embodiments of my invention, but it is understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration, and that various omissions or changes in shape, proportion and arrangement of parts, as well as the substitution of equivalent elements for those herein shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the: invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A reclining article of repose for supporting the body of a person, comprising: a support, a unit including a seat and a back-rest rigid with each other, a portion of said unit being tiltably connected with said support, toggle guiding means including a first guiding link and a second guiding link pivotally connected with each other at adjoining portions, said first guiding link being pivoted to said unit at a point to the rear of the tilting connection between said unit and said support, and having a lower extension portion extending beyond the pivotal connection between the first and second guiding links, said second guiding link being pivoted to said support, blocking means arranged on a member of the article for abutting engagement with at least one of said guiding links so as to hold the guiding links of said toggle guiding means in a position slightly to the rear of the dead center position when the unit is in its sitting position, and biasing means for urging said guiding link into abutting engagement with said blocking means, said biasing means including a leg-rest movable relative to'said seat, and controlling means operatively connected with said leg-rest and the lower extension portion of said first guiding link for controlling the movements of said leg-rest in dependence upon movements of said guiding means, said guiding links being arranged for passing through and forwardly of their dead center position during a tilting movement of the unit from the sitting position into a reclined position.

2. A reclining article of repose according to claim 1 in which said; leg-restiisiswingab'ly mounted on the;sea.t and said controlling melan's comprisesacontrollinglinkzpivnted to said leg-rest and theilowcr extension:p'ortion ofwsaid first guiding; link.

:3. A reclining.articletoftrepose-according:to:claim l'in which said leg-:rest is iswingablymountedonsaid-support and said contiiollingmeans comprises a scontrolling link pivoted to saidJeg-restand-the lower:extensionportion of said first, guiding link.

4. reclining art-ieleof: repose. accordingto claim 11in which said controlling.-rneans comprises a 'pair of links including a-firstlink-andasecond;link pivotally connected with eachothexzat 2adjoining porti0ns,:saidiirstlink being pivotedtosaidsupport,:said secondilink being pivotedto .rearwardlyvtilte d positi0n,.said toggle guiding means including a firstguiding linkandaseconiguiding link, a first pivotconnecting the firstguidinglinktowthe reanportion of said seat, asecond pivot-connecting the second guiding'link to said support at apoint below and for- "30 wardlyof saidfirstpivot, .anda thirdpivot connecting'the second'guidingLlink totthe;firstsguidi'nglink,'saidfirstsguiding link having a handle portion extending above-itlaefirst gpivot randraniextension; portiontdepending.below said; third pivot, said third :pivot. being located neavwardly of the line between saidfirst 'andisecond pivots when -the =ehair is :in its npright position -with the second link rearwardly inclined: and itheifirst link in-a substantiallyverticalposition, said handle :beihfgmanually movable rearwardly and downwardly about said first pivot to move said thirdgpivot forwardly of theline betweenis-aidefirstaandsecond pivots and to move the extension portion of said 'first linkifor- -wardlyT-and upwardly, a deg-rest mounted at theiforward end of the chair .-for movement between a -retracted- 103ition beneath=said seatand'anextended position forwardly "of e and substantially at the r level -1. of said seat, and "a controllingrlinkformovingasaid leg rest, said-controllinglink being connected to said leg rest and to the extensionportlDniOff-Said .first link, whereby!forwardand-npward move- .ment of :said extension -por tion raises said 5 legirest to its "-20 extended-position.

References Cited in "the fileof this patent UNITED "STATES :PATENTS 1,286,648 'Kaaialii Dec. 3, {918 1,301,429 'Givn'er Apr. 22,1f!ll9 2,296,212 Kluglein Sept-1's, 1942 2,407,839 Lemos Sept. 17, I945 EFOREIGN PATENTS 546,234 France Aug. '17, 1922 

